2021 MIAA A Conference Season Preview

Archbishop Spalding figures to be one of the favorites this season to win the MIAA “A” Conference with their depth both on the mound and at the plate. Senior University of Maryland signee Noah Mrotek and sophomore right-hander Parker Thomas (East Carolina) are as good of a one-two punch you’ll find in the conference. In addition to them; Joe Palumbo, now in his eighth season as head coach, will look for juniors Caleb Estes (Maryland), Beau Haslinger, Braeden Piotrowski, and left-hander Eddie Sargent to add depth and solidify the staff. Offensively, it will take a collective team effort to make up for the loss of several key pieces from last year’s lineup that included the likes of Josh Moylan (East Carolina) and Ethan McCormick (Liberty) just to name a couple. Seniors Thomas Joseph (Navy) and Ben Wieman (Frostburg State) provide steady leadership alongside third-year starter Estes at shortstop. Look for juniors Kyle Garrett, Matt Gormley, Brady Hannon, Sargent, and sophomores Ethan McNally and Thomas to make an impact in the lineup throughout the season as well. The program ended 2019 with a sour taste in their mouth after going two-and-out in the playoffs and are still looking to avenge that ending this year. Expect to see them towards the top of the standings throughout the course of the season and with a shot to win it all come playoff time in May.

The reigning MIAA “A” Conference champions from 2019 look poised once again to defend that title in 2021. 20th year head coach Lou Eckerl will look to seniors Alex Khan (West Virginia) and Scott Borgmann (Wilmington) as the aces of the staff with Steven Mufareh, Will Procheska, Aiden Germac, and Jackson Kerr adding depth out of the pen and in the rotation at times this year. Offensively, the Cardinals are arguably even deeper with Khan, Lamar King, John Harris, and Mike Wineke (Frederick CC) providing the majority of the power in the middle of the lineup. Look for Chase Davalli, Owen Liberto (Frederick CC), Jannuel Wispi (USC-Lancaster), and Raymond Infussi to be some of the key players The Hall looks for to set the table in front of those guys. Sophomores Jake Butler and EJ Hankerson headline a talented underclassmen group that will further provide Eckerl with options in the lineup as the season progresses.

Gilman was primed and further so our pick to win the MIAA “A” Conference last year before Covid-19 ended everyone’s high school seasons across the country. The Greyhounds have a few key pieces back but will undoubtedly miss Danny Rosenfield (Davidson), Tripp Myers (Johns Hopkins) and Jackson Tacka (Navy) from the rotation, and Ryan Williamson (St. Bonaventure), Michael Mallas (Lafayette), and Jackson McCambridge in the lineup. 12th year head coach Larry Sheets does return Peter Heubeck, a Wake Forest signee and also our number one ranked player in the class of 2021. Heubeck will give Gilman a great opportunity to win every time out this year but they will also need to find ways to score runs. In addition to pitching, Heubeck will find himself in the lineup along with fellow seniors Casey Bishop (Towson), Ryan Martinez (San Francisco), and Trevor Weiner. James Madison signee Matt Leikus will also get an opportunity to swing it and play a key role offensively for Gilman but will not be a difference maker on the mound unfortunately as he continues to rehab from off-season surgery. With Leikus out, look for seniors Owen Holmgren and Bennett Speicher to see plenty of time on the mound alongside junior Alex Garrison and sophomore Cooper Sidell. Rounding out some of the top underclassmen that look to make an impact in the lineup this season are outfielders Adam Hicks, Blake Paquette, Sidell, infielder Collin McPherson, and catcher Danny Leikus.

Like many other schools across the conference, experience at the varsity level stemming from last year’s cancelled season due to Covid-19 is something that 4th year head coach Mike Kelly will have to get his players to overcome as they look to contend for the MIAA title in 2021. On the mound, Mount St. Mary’s signee Stephen Schenning and Mikey Jensen (UMASS-Amherst) have established themselves as the aces of the staff with Chris Lopez (Virginia Wesleyan), and McDonogh transfer Austin Gemmill adding much needed depth to navigate the always difficult conference schedule. In addition on the mound, senior Jack Belbot (Washington & Lee) and junior Connor Klebrowski will look to establish roles out of the bullpen to start the season. Sophomore Dylan Bryan could also play a key role at some point this season as a lefty on a right-handed heavy staff. Offensively, the Dons look balanced throughout the lineup with a solid mix of speed and power. Look for speedsters Ryan Wright (Marymount), Joshua Braxton (Mount St. Mary's), and Leo Foust, to set the table for middle of the order bats that include Mason Burke (Marymount) and Belbot. Sophomore infielder Trent Waire will be an underclassmen to watch this year as he also looks to crack the lineup and play a key role both defensively and at the plate. Replacing the loss of last year’s ace Nate Beal (Pennsylvania) and team leader Dom Dinoto (Army) will come with its challenges but this year’s team looks poised to contend for the MIAA title come season’s end.

McDonogh is very young this season with just two starters in senior Evan Marcinko and sophomore Jack Bussard back from last year’s squad. The good thing for Matt Tuneski, now in his 5th season as the head coach of the Eagles is that both Marcinko and Bussard are both front end arms that should be able to keep them in ball games throughout the year. Outside of those two horses on the mound, McDonogh will need senior Sam Kinney and a bunch of younger guys to step up and provide depth. The loss of Everrett Cooper, who transferred in the off-season to Pro5 Academy in North Carolina unmistakingly leaves a huge void in the lineup as they were already set to graduate and lose their entire middle of the order this year with Brian Nevin at St. Olaf College, Joe Radek at Swarthmore College, and Kyle Whitaker now at NJIT. Some other players of note that figure to get plenty of opportunities to play early on and gain experience this year include sophomores Ben Kinney, Peter Kokinis, Dylan Leidy, and freshman Santino Sanchez.

The Gaels were dealt a huge blow when news broke earlier this winter that junior Ripken Reese would miss the entire season with an injury. Reese had a breakout summer in 2020 which ultimately ended with his commitment to Kent State. His versatility to play multiple key positions and also pitch will ultimately be something 3rd year head coach Phil Kraska and Mount St. Joe needs to overcome if they hope to contend for the MIAA title in 2021. Returning several players with multiple years of varsity experience looks to be a strength that many teams across the conference will not have after last year’s season was ended early due to Covid-19. Offensively, Ethan Grieb (Anne Arundel CC), Michael Sweeney, Josh Lantz (PSU-Harrisburg), Travis Leatherwood (U.S. Merchant Marine Academy) and Zach Wainio figure to be the top impact bats in the lineup for the Gaels. Junior Shane Mummey and several underclassmen figure to see early opportunities to crack and round-out the lineup. On the mound, Kraska will also look to Grieb and Mummey to log conference starts throughout the year with sophomores Jackson Bauer and Ty Whittaker amongst others as guys that will look to fill in and further add depth out of the pen.

4th year head coach Mike Bronakoski and the St. Mary’s Saints enter 2021 with senior Luke Bessette (Haverford) and junior Ryan Merkel as the team’s two top arms with McCormick Buchner (Rider) and Sam Daniels (Lackawanna CC) both now playing in college. George Mason signee Logan Scully returns for his senior season as the leader on offense with fellow seniors Michael Coit and juniors Damion Kenealy and Jon Madden also back as key pieces in the middle of the lineup. Bronakoski has a solid core group with those mentioned above but will certainly need several others to step up. Among those expected to make an impact this year include juniors Rocco Abdinoor, Eric Chaney and freshman outfielder Henry Carbone. Chaney, Kenealy and Coit will also be among those the Saints will look to for depth on the mound.